Photo: Jyrki Salmi from Finland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 13 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Acanthis
- Species flammea
Where it lives
Low (locally high) Arctic to northern temperate Holarctic tundra and taiga: southwestern, southeastern Greenland, Iceland, northern Scandinavia east through northern Russia to Chukotskiy Pen., Kamchatka and Sakhalin (eastern Russia). Also temperate western, west-central Palearctic lowland (montane in southern) birch and larch woods: British Isles, southwestern Scandinavia east to northern Germany and southern Poland; south to southeastern France, Austria and Czech Republic
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Redpoll is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Redpoll is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) belongs to the Fringillidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA low (locally high) Arctic to n temperate Holarctic tundra and taiga: sw, se Greenland, Iceland, n Scandinavia e through n Russia to Chukotskiy Pen., Kamchatka and Sakhalin (e Russia). Also temperate w, wc Palearctic lowland (montane in s) birch and larch woods: British Isles, sw Scandinavia e to n Germany and s Poland; s to se France, Austria and Czech Republic.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13 g, with a wing length of about 7.6 cm and a tail of around 5.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 19.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Redpoll?
The Redpoll is a very small bird that weighs around 13 g.
Where does the Redpoll live?
The Redpoll is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA low (locally high) Arctic to n temperate Holarctic tundra and taiga: sw, se Greenland, Iceland, n Scandinavia e through n Russia to Chukotskiy Pen., Kamchatka and Sakhalin (e Russia). Also temperate w, wc Palearctic lowland (montane in s) birch and larch woods: British Isles, sw Scandinavia e to n Germany and s Poland; s to se France, Austria and Czech Republic, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Redpoll belong to?
The Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Redpoll eat?
The Redpoll is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Redpoll migrate?
The Redpoll is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Redpoll endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Redpoll make?
1 real field recording of the Redpoll — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Redpoll's range?
The Redpoll has a mapped global range of about 19.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.